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starlitangels · 1 year

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Immediate Aftermath

Ye Be Warned! Major Spoilers for the Cataclysm Finale ahead! I just let the Vibes carry me wherever so the POV jumps around a lot and... this is kinda long. Enjoy! 3.6k words

—

Starlight

The intercom beeped off after that mass-maker—Samuel Collins’—little announcement. Asher staggered over to us, holding a wound on his shoulder. It looked like a vampire bite. I was leaning heavily on Avior, hands balled into fists in his shirt in an attempt to stay upright.

I looked between the werewolf and the daemon. “We need to get out of here,” I said. Voice raspy with exhaustion.

“Starlight?” Avior asked.

“We need to get out. The vampires are gonna start vying for territory. I am not falling prey to any of them, but I’m too drained to defend myself right now.” I rested my head on his chest, barely able to keep it upright.

“Coordinator…” Asher said. He looked as exhausted as I was.

I met his warm amber eyes. “Get your pack out of Dahlia. Take the Keaton Pack’s former territory in Ferris if you can. Don’t trust any vampire.”

“Can you shift?” Avior asked.

Asher looked into the middle distance over my shoulder. “Maybe. I think I overused my magic,” he growled, voice even more gravelly than the last time he and I had spoke.

Avior released a breath he’d been holding—while I remembered that daemons didn’t actually need to breathe—and closed his eyes.

His Telepathy brushed against my magic. Camelopardalis. Are you there?

I didn’t catch the reply, but Cam must have said something, because I felt Avior’s thoughts again.

Regroup with me. ASAP. I need your help.

A few moments later, the familiar figure of Cam appeared in front of us—running, rather than rifting. “What can I do?” His voice was soft, but cut perfectly over the pandemonium still raging.

Avior nodded to Asher. “Get him back to his pack. Make sure he’s safe.”

Cam nodded. “Of course.” He scooped up Asher and disappeared in a blur before the shifter alpha could protest.

Avior looked down at me. “Starlight… I hate to ask this of you. But… I need…”

“Take whatever you need,” I interrupted. “I may be physically exhausted but I have plenty of emotion to share.”

“I love you,” he whispered as his grip tightened on me, keeping me up.

After a moment, his eyes closed.

All daemons. Fall back, his voice echoed in my mind. Rendezvous at the old pack den in Ferris. We have to get out of the city. Rift there or run. I’ll meet you. Vega, to me. I need your report.

Avior bent and scooped up my legs, cradling me to his chest.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Running to the rendezvous.”

“You were just a conduit for extremely powerful Sovereign magic. Aren’t you exhausted?”

Avior took off running. “Sovereign magic and daemon magic aren’t that different. My form is literally made to benefit off their power. We fed on them, remember? I’m not physical like you. You letting them in is much more exhausting for you than channeling their power was for me. I am exhausted but I have ways of powering through it that a human doesn’t.”

He slammed to a stop and kissed my forehead as he set me down. I glanced around. I’d been to Ferris a couple times. Just enough to recognize I wasn’t in Dahlia anymore.

Vega was standing in front of the large, rundown pack house. Leaned against the brick. Arms crossed. One of his horns had chipped. Not broken, but chipped.

He looked appalled to see me. You’re alive?

“Obviously,” I replied.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Avior said.

That much is clear, Vega agreed.

“Is your… lover still at the haven?” I asked.

Yes.

“Go back there. Get them out,” Avior said. “Bring them here to us where they’ll be safer. Then we can talk.”

Your heart is soft, Avior.

“Yours is softer than you let on. Now go.”

Vega just smirked—

And ducked backward through a tear in reality.

Avior sagged. “Let’s go get you a spot to rest for a bit. You’re about to fall over.” Still supporting weight my knees couldn’t bear, he helped me stumble into the former den. Our whole group of daemons were milling about inside. Avior ignored all of them and took me upstairs to a threadbare mattress. “You’re safe here, my starlight. These daemons respect you. Rest for as long as you need.”

I barely caught the last word before I passed out.

—

Avior sighed and left the bedroom before rifting—for the first time in his life of his own volition—downstairs. Almost just to prove he knew how now to himself.

Which was ridiculous. He’d had that knowledge of how shoved into his head and passed from him to every daemon in existence on either side of the Meridian. What little had been left of those two Sovereigns—Elaetum and Min’Ara—had still been more powerful than any one daemon could ever hope to be. Even Vega. To touch the minds of every daemon…

“What the hell was all that about?!” Scorpius demanded the moment Avior appeared in the main room. There was a large crack through one of his twisting horns and he had a large black eye that was already rapidly healing. “What happened back there?!”

“I don’t know!” Avior spat. “I wasn’t there! Vega shoved me through a rift and then led you all to the Spire!”

“That’s not what I’m talking about!” Scorpius retorted. “I’m talking about the rifting. How do we suddenly just know how? That much I assume you had something to do with.”

Avior longed to go back to Aria. To get out of this physical form he’d been confined to for so long. Maybe being astral again would get rid of the headache forming behind his temples from how hard he’d been clenching his jaw.

But if the Chorus realized he was the one who’d become the Sovereigns’ conduit and trapped the rest of them in the Meridian to stabilize it… he didn’t want to imagine the punishment he’d have to take. He didn’t want to imagine what would happen to his daemons here—and his starlight, finally resting upstairs—should he not survive it.

Best to lay low in Elegy for now.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I did. It’s a long story and I need Vega here before I have to tell it twice.”

Scorpius did not look satisfied with that answer, but seemed to accept that, for now, that was all Avior would say before Vega came back. He shoved a hand through his hair and stomped off. Avior closed his eyes. Being the leader was going to be more exhausting than channeling the Sovereigns’ power.

He looked around, taking stock of his daemons. Ones he’d kept safe in the haven for years. A head count ticked through his head. Elnath, Bellatrix, Scorpius, Cam, Crux, Vega’s on his way…

“Hold up,” his voice said loudly, cutting across all the chatter and silencing it in an instant. “Where are Delphinus and Vindemiator?!”

—

Caelum was confused. Delphinus’ arms were wrapped around his shoulders, quietly trying to encourage him to “block it out.” He hadn’t seen Delphinus in a long time—but the minute he’d ended up in Elegy, the older Empathy Daemon had been there. Holding him. Comforting him. Whispering words of encouragement. Telling him that he’d be okay—that he’d learn to block out all the hurt and pain that pulsed in the Spellsong of this plane like lifeblood.

Caelum had been terrified the day Delphinus was exiled to Elegy all that time ago. Ursa had done her best to steward him after that, but Caelum had always missed Delphinus.

“D-D-Delphi…” he whimpered. “I-I-I—I can’t block it out!” A sob shook his body.

“Yes you can. You’re gonna be okay, Caelum. I promise,” Delphinus said, voice getting a little louder but no less comforting. “C’mon. We’ll get you somewhere you can be safe, and we’ll start finding people for you to feed on.”

Caelum nodded, his little curly horn getting caught in Delphinus’ shirt. Delphinus waved a hand and a soft, fuzzy sweater—the same color as Caelum’s astral form was—appeared over Caelum, along with something comfy on his legs. Delphinus also gave him shoes and they started to make their way through the woods outside the big human city together.

After a bit, Caelum knew where they were going. “Are you following that warmth?” he asked, looking up at Delphinus with tears in his eyes.

Delphinus nodded. “Yeah. That warmth is how humans’ happiness feels to us,” he replied. “It’s what you and I feed on. We’re Empathy Daemons, here on Elegy. We feed on happiness, joy, and empathy. Compassion. It’s scarce on Elegy, but we’ll be okay. I promise.”

Caelum nodded. He didn’t feel okay—but Delphinus had never lied to him.

—

Freelancer

Vindemiator cringed, squeezing his eyes shut. I rushed over to him as he staggered. “Vin—Vin, what’s wrong?” I asked frantically.

He shook his head, whipping his hair off his forehead. “I… I just got hit with a wave of magic. I… I know how to rift, now,” he said. “And… the Meridian… I can feel it. It’s stable.” He looked off through the trees. I followed his line of sight, looking off toward Dahlia.

“They did it?” I whispered.

“They… they did something. I… I don’t know what.” He took a shuddering breath. “But I can feel it between Aria and Elegy, now. It’s strong.”

I took his face in my hands. “Maybe we’ll have more time to be happy together, now.”

His gaze was soft as it landed on mine. “God, I hope so,” he breathed. “Come on. Let’s go out to the garden. If Avior tracks us down for ditching the haven, I’d rather face his wrath outside than let him accidentally destroy the kitchen.”

I nodded. “Let’s go work on the garden, then, for a while.”

He pressed a desperate, relieved kiss to my lips. One I returned with equal fervor, holding onto him tight. We were gonna be okay—we’d have more time together.

When we pulled away, he led me by the hand outside and we started to till the hard soil, the chilly autumn air made it hard to break the ground where the water in the soil was already trying to freeze, but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.

It was about an hour before Vindemiator spoke again.

He looked up from where he’d been helping me shovel up some dirt. “Someone’s coming. Daemons,” he said.

“Multiple?”

He nodded. “Two.”

“Avior and Vega?”

“I can’t tell. They’re too far away.” He pushed me behind him. “Get in the house. I’ll put some wards up.”

“Vin—”

“This isn’t a debate, my love. Get inside. If it’s not Avior and Vega—I don’t want to imagine who else it could be.”

“But they’re daemons. They’re your people.”

Vindemiator fixed me with a Look. “I was exiled, remember? If these ones weren’t, they’re probably looking for a fight.”

“Vin, please, don’t—”

“Hello?” a voice called. It sounded young. But not Avior’s, nor Vega’s in my head, the way I’d gotten used to.

“Who are you?” Vindemiator snapped back.

Two figures emerged from the trees—and Vindemiator dropped the shovel he’d been holding.

“Delphinus?” he demanded. “And—who is this?”

“This is Caelum,” Delphinus replied. I’d heard the name Delphinus from Vindemiator. Delphinus was an Empathy Daemon. Exiled for the same reason most daemons ended up on my plane. Speaking out about the treatment of the Sovereigns.

The little bundle under his arm was pink and fluffy. Fluffy curly baby pink hair, a fuzzy pink sweater. Brighter pink horns spiralling out from either side of his head. He met my eyes. There was something in his gaze. Some terrified desperation I couldn’t quite place. His little button nose and cheekbones were splattered in freckles.

I edged out from behind where Vindemiator had shoved me behind him and approached them both. “Hello,” I greeted gently, still looking at Caelum. His eyes were fixed on me. I got close and put out a hand. “Your name is Caelum?”

He nodded, eyes brimming with tears.

I gave him my name in return. “Are you scared, buddy?”

He nodded again. One of those tears brimmed over, sliding down his face.

I extended my hand closer, but turned it palm-up so I was offering him help, rather than a handshake. “You’re safe here,” I said. “We won’t hurt you.”

Vindemiator approached slowly from behind. I peeked at him to see him looking quizzically at Delphinus.

Who sighed. “He coalesced about… twenty-five years ago. Or so.”

“He’s the newest one, isn’t he?” Vindemiator asked. “The newest Empathy Daemon?”

Delphinus nodded. “I stewarded him for twenty years before I got exiled.”

I ignored them both, focusing on Caelum. “Hey, buddy, do you want a hug?” I asked.

He nodded, ripped out from under Delphinus’ arm, and slammed into me. I felt him clinging to me and shaking.

I stroked the hair on the back of his head. It was unbelievably soft. “It’s okay, Caelum. You’re safe. You don’t have to be scared of us. Vindemiator and I are friends.”

“—followed the strongest source of happiness he could feel. Not even knowing he was doing it. By the time I found him, he was in the woods and absolutely terrified out of his mind. But he was on his way to you two,” Delphinus was saying.

Vindemiator hummed thoughtfully. “He’s welcome to stay here with us,” he offered. “You both are.”

Delphinus didn’t reply immediately. “I should get back to Avior soon. I’ll come check on Caelum when I can, but Avior’s probably wondering where I am.” He paused. “You too. You’re not the only one who ditched. I just did it the second the knowledge of how to rift appeared in my head because I knew I’d have to find Caelum.”

“You’re a good steward, Del,” Vindemiator said.

I looked over at the two of them. “Vin, go with him. Explain to Avior where we went. I’ll stay here with Caelum.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. We’ll be fine. Go find out what happened.”

He kissed my forehead. “I’ll be back soon,” he promised.

He and Delphinus ducked through a rift.

“Hey Caelum,” I said, playfulness touching my tone. “I bet you’ve never had hot chocolate before.”

He looked up at me. He was so small. “What’s that?”

“Come inside and I’ll show you.”

He didn’t let me go as we shuffled into the cottage. I cast a ward over the small building once we were in the door, and then took Caelum straight to the kitchen.

—

Starlight

I woke up to arguing somewhere. Blinking my eyes open—they were heavy and sticky with how deeply I’d slept—I sat up.

I was still in the Keaton Pack’s former den. The cracks in my skin from the power of the Sovereigns in my body had finally sealed back up completely. But the large one that had been splitting open my chest at my Core had left a scar. A burn mark that twinged a bit.

“—shoved me through a rift?!” Avior was shouting. “What the hell?!”

We succeeded because of it. Vega’s voice was soft, broadcasted telepathy as usual, but distant, like he didn’t really want anyone else to hear. You… and your human… stabilized the Meridian.

“They could have died holding the Sovereigns in their body! They’re human!”

You don’t give human hardiness enough credit, Vega said. They’d fight to survive harder than any daemon because of their mortality.

I heard Avior’s frustrated growl as I stretched out my limbs. I was still tired, but I wasn’t lethargic, like I’d been before.

I swung my legs off the threadbare mattress. Avior’s jacket—the one he’d intended to wear to storm the Spire, but had ended up in the Meridian with us—was draped over my upper body. I slung it on against the slight chill and slipped out of the room. Avior and Vega were arguing downstairs.

But I heard sobbing from the room next to the one I’d been in.

Avior and Vega could wait.

I knocked on the door.

“C—come in,” a familiar voice said.

I pushed the door open. “What’s wrong, Cam?” I asked gently.

Camelopardalis patted the space on the mattress next to him. I crossed and sat beside him, wrapping one arm over his shoulders. In the year I’d been the haven coordinator, I’d made friends with most of the daemons under my care. Cam was no exception. He twisted and buried his face in my chest, crying. I started to rock him, rubbing my thumbs over the spot where his horns met his scalp.

“He… he was one of my kind,” Cam sobbed.

“Who?”

“The…” His voice was thick with emotion—and the buildup of phlegm that came from crying. “The Invoker.”

“The one that the Imperium bound the vampires’ invocations to?”

He nodded into my chest. “Asher told me. His name was Brachium. He was the first daemon exiled here. Millennia ago. Long before I coalesced. I never even knew him but… but he spent so long here that he was dying. And… and he gave his life thinking he’d free the vampires… and…” Another sob wracked his body. “And I can’t help but feel like I lost a member of my family.” His voice dropped to the tiniest whisper. “I never even knew him…”

I held him tighter. “It’s okay, Cam. It’s okay to feel. Your compassion—your care—for people you don’t even know has always impressed me. Don’t lock your heart up just because it seems strange for you to mourn a man you never met. Let yourself mourn him. We’re all mourning today, too. We succeeded—but we made everything worse at the same time.”

Cam sniffed. “Is… is it true? What Avior said? That you hosted what was left of the Meridian in your body so it could speak to him?”

“Yeah.”

“You could… you could have died. You could have… dissolved from being exposed to Sovereign energy like that.”

“I didn’t have much other choice. And I don’t regret it.”

Cam’s eyes—the soft teal of a tropical ocean just after sunrise, but bloodshot from tears—met mine as he finally lifted his head from my chest. “Humans are so incredible,” he whispered.

“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “We’re just stupid and stubborn and do whatever we think we have to in order to survive.” I shrugged.

That earned me a surprised laugh from him. I ruffled his hair as though he were my younger brother—not an interdimensional being probably three times my age or more. I smiled through the melancholy in my expression.

“—the hell were you, Vindemiator?!” Avior shouted from downstairs.

“Uh-oh,” I muttered. “I should… uh… probably…”

“I’ll come with,” Cam said.

“You don’t have to—”

“No. I… I should. I can… I can mourn Brachium later too.”

“If you’re sure.”

We got off the mattress and went downstairs.

—

Warden

Emotions were everywhere—and they were deep. I could barely think over my struggle to keep the waves of everything away from me. I’d been moments away from a feeding when the Sovereigns had disappeared from Aria. I was hungry and I was weak. I didn’t know anything about Elegy except what the stories used to say. And then, right after the Sovereigns vanished, knowledge rushed into my mind. How to rift—and to feed on human emotions—how to keep living.

So I’d fled to Elegy as soon as I could.

And now I wished I hadn’t. I was definitely not prepared for the sheer amount of emotion that would bombard me.

My instincts sought out something familiar, and I found myself running. Buildings blurred past on either side as I followed the magic.

I slid to a stop outside a large… house (I think was the human word).

A tall daemon was standing in front of it, a human—petite in comparison to him—tucked gently in his arms.

He looked up at me as I stopped running. His eyes were gold and they burned in the darkness of the night. Well, well. Hello, little inchoate one, he greeted. The human twisted to look at me, eyes widening. You must be new to this plane.

I nodded. I am, I replied. Someone is… in there. That I know.

And who might that be?

It… it feels like my steward. Like… like Avior.

The tall daemon—whose signature finally registered as a Sadism Daemon—blinked. Almost surprised.

In that case, why don’t you go on inside? You look like you could use a little guidance.

Thank you, uh…? I trailed off, a gentle inquiry for this daemon’s name.

Vega. I am Vega.

Thank you, Vega. I gave him my name in return and edged around him and the human he held—so gently despite his size and the muscles he had—and ducked inside.

All the chatter ceased the second I shut the door behind me.

Most of the faces staring at me were daemons. I felt an empowered human somewhere—their weaker signature almost a void compared to the familiarity of the daemons.

And then something smashed into me.

“Are you alright?!” Avior demanded, checking me over. “Oh, God, it’s been ages since I’ve seen you. Are you okay?” He turned. “Starlight! Come meet one of my old charges from when I was a steward in Aria!” he called into the crowd before going back to looking me over. “Are you hurt?”

I… I think I’m alright. Overwhelmed. There’s a lot going on.

“It’s okay. We’re here for you. We’ll help. I will help, okay?”

Yeah. Yeah alright.

#Redacted ASMR #fic #Redacted Imperium #Redacted Cataclysm #Cataclysm Spoilers #Redacted Avior #Redacted Starlight #Redacted Camelopardalis #Redacted Asher #Redacted Vega #Redacted Vindemiator #Redacted Freelancer #Redacted Gavin #Redacted Caelum #Redacted Warden #Redacted Audio #Starlit Fic

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